I want to be a screenwriter for film and tv?
What major should I declare for? i''ve been told personally majors of communications, theatre studies, media studies, drama, english but i'm just not sure. Should I double major? and minor in theatre
What did most screenwriters do or study before they became screenwriters?
Strangely enough, I majored in mathematics and studio art (painting), and for ten years after college focused on directing (shooting shorts, working with actors, going to USC film school on the directing/production side, not the writing side.) Some of my cohorts at USC and beyond had been lawyers, oceanographers, playwrights, doctors, journalists, and all sorts of other things before turning to screenwriting.I tend to advise younger people to study something OTHER than writing/screenwriting as undergraduates, so that they have interesting life experiences and areas of knowledge outside of movies.I also recommend that screenwriters spend some time in the actual, concrete practice of filmmaking. Too many aspiring screenwriters have misconceptions about what a screenplay is. There is nothing like the wild, insane, inprovisational world of low-budget independent movie making to teach a screenwriter that scripts are protean documents, subject to constant revision and re-imagination throughout the filmmaking process.Some aspiring screenwriters who were English majors or Creative Writing majors treat screenplays a little too preciously, as if they were novels or poems, which is a mistake. Screenwriters are filmmakers, and they need to understand the filmmaking process.Lastly, look at Ken Miyamoto's answer to this question. The best thing to study before embarking on a career screenwriting are well-written screenplays and classic films.
How can I contact any director or producer if I want to show them my own created story or script?
You must have already learnt that it is difficult to find a known director or producer. That does not mean there is no real option for you.The method I propose is quite lengthy but likely to pay off.The industry isn’t small and there are about 1200 films made each year in our country. So many producers already pay writers for their story, not all of them are famous (they can be profitable).I would suggest you to look for such small time producers/directors. These people may have the money or have someone ready to invest in their projects. But, lucky for you these people don’t have so much of an influx of stories or screenplay.You can find such people everywhere. Just search for producer on Quora and there are so many people already in the industry answering questions and enjoying themselves.Once you have found them on some platform like Quora, LinkedIn, Facebook or even Instagram, just build a relationship with them. You can even jump in with your elevator pitch in the DM.I would suggest you to copyright your screenplay first. You are very likely to come across some people with the resources to invest in your project. Don’t be turned off if many don’t.
Should I double major in Acting and Journalism?
You should speak with an admissions counselor at NYU. They will have the best information for you. But most universities allow a double major. As long as you don't exceed their maximum number of credits per semester, they'll take your money. It's not a bad idea, especially in a high risk area such as theatre. Journalism is something more substaintial to fall back on. And double check the program at NYU. Most colleges and universities have Theatre programs, not necessarily acting programs specifically for film or TV. Film and television programs often focus on production, directing, and writing.